The Los Angeles Lakers have an uncanny ability to bail themselves out with star-driven moves. Every time it seems as though Los Angeles' back is against the wall, it finds a way to bring in a player with significant accolades and profound talent.
That trend may continue if a recent rumor about the Lakers' next offseason move proves true—divisive as it may be.
Los Angeles' offseason has already included the addition of former No. 1 overall draft pick Deandre Ayton. The deal was struck just five months after the franchise completed a mind-blowing trade for Luka Doncic, and mere days after LeBron James accepted his player option for the 2025-26 season.
According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, another star is considering joining the Lakers once they've completed a potential buyout with the Phoenix Suns: Bradley Beal.
"According to a league source, the list of teams Beal has thought about includes the LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks."
Beal has become one of the most polarizing players in the NBA, but at the cost the Lakers would be paying, intrigue would be inevitable.
Bradley Beal would consider signing with Lakers if Suns buy him out
Beal is coming off of a two-year run with the Suns that left many pondering how much he has left in the tank. He sacrificed his numbers for the betterment of the team, but all critics could seem to focus on was Phoenix losing in the first round of the 2024 postseason and missing the playoffs in 2024-25.
Despite the turbulent team experience, Beal continued to solidify his place as one of the more efficient scorers in the NBA.
Between his two seasons in Phoenix, Beal averaged 17.2 points, 4.3 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 2.1 three-point field goals made per game. He did so while shooting the lights out, posting a slash line of .505/.407/.808.
Beal was comfortably above the league average in eFG% during both of his seasons with the Suns, exceeding it by 3.5 percent in 2023-24 and 2.8 in 2024-25.
In terms of how he'd fit in Los Angeles, Beal's greatest attribute may be his off-ball offensive value. He shot 40.2 percent on catch-and-shoot threes in 2024-25, and has proven to know how to find space since his days with John Wall and the Washington Wizards.
Beal is also a proven scorer who can create in isolation, distribute to his teammates, and finish at all three levels.
It's fair to question if there are enough touches to go around for a team that would have Beal, Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves. The Lakers desperately need depth, however, and Beal represents an opportunity to create it.
Beal to the Lakers is far from a safe bet, especially with other contenders being able to offer a more defined role, but another star could realistically be headed to Los Angeles.